IAP 2015 Activities by Category - Physical Sciences

Sophia Sklan, Michelle Tomasik

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

3 Part Lecture Series

Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Denise Wahkor, 4-315, 617 253-4855, DENISEW@MIT.EDU

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Entropy and Society

	Jan/13	Tue	02:00PM-03:30PM	13-2137
	Jan/20	Tue	02:00PM-03:30PM	13-2137
	Jan/27	Tue	02:00PM-03:30PM	13-2137

Come learn how the science created to explain steam engines is being used to explain
the dynamics of social systems. We¿ll examine the four major interpretations of
entropy and how they relate to the new fields of econophysics and sociophyiscs.
Concepts will be illustrated with simple and sugary demonstrations. No
prerequisite knowledge required.

Sophia Sklan, Michelle Tomasik

Greg Fournier, Assistant Professor of Geobiology

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

The origin of life and the nature of its common ancestry is one of humanity’s greatest unanswered questions, and has remained mysterious despite over half a century of serious scientific inquiry. Knowledge of the mechanism, timing, and setting of life’s origin not only greatly enriches our understanding of biology, but also directly informs our understanding of planetary processes and conditions on the Early Earth, and provides an astrobiological context to our place within the Universe. With the advent and expansion of genomic technology, powerful new tools are now available to investigate our origins as never before.  This seminar highlights the work of researchers applying the tools of genomics, molecular evolution, and synthetic biology to these challenging problems, and the remarkable insights that can be gained from new computational and experimental techniques. 

Individual lectures in the series will be given in 54-915, noon to 1pm. Please check individual session listing for descriptions of each topic and the day it will be offered.

Since there is a delay in information posted to the IAP website please see <http://eapsweb.mit.edu/events/iap-2015> for up-to-date schedule information.

Sponsor(s): Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Contact: Vicki McKenna, 54-910, 617 253-3380, VSM@MIT.EDU

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Jan/13

Tue

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-915

Kickstarting Evolution: The emergence of novel functional biomolecules at the origin of life and today 

Noam Prywes - Graduate Student

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Jan/20

Tue

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-915

Ascent of the proteome in ancient life

Aaron Goldman - Assistant Professor

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Jan/23

Fri

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-918

Engineering modern microbes with ancestral genes to explore ancient life

 

Betul Kacar - Research Scientist

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Jan/28

Wed

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-915, rescheduled to Feb. 3

Molecular evolution before the Domain ancestors: Indications for dramatic planetary changes during life¿s early evolution

Peter Gogarten - Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor

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Jan/28

Wed

01:00PM-02:00PM

54-915, rescheduled to Feb. 3

Panel Discussion: What do we know about earliest life on Earth?  Does biology constrain the early planetary narrative?

Greg Fournier - Assistant Professor of Geobiology

Dave Pritchard, Professor

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none

Mechanics ReView– Prof. Dave Pritchard Start: Monday, Jan 12, 2015  End: Thursday, Jan  29, 2015.  Building on Newtonian Mechanics at the 8.01 level, we will offer a unified view of how to solve real world mechanics problems that involve several concepts at once. We will emphasize several themes: modeling reality, specifying the system and interactions, making sense of the answer, approximations/estimation, how to approach problems and decompose them into simpler pieces. We will use online models that gives students a hierarchical overview of the core physical content of Mechanics. Limited enrollment – sign up by 12:00 noon Monday Jan. 12, 2015

Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Nancy Boyce, 4-315, 617 253-4461, NBOYCE@MIT.EDU

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	Jan/12	Mon	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/13	Tue	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/14	Wed	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/15	Thu	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/16	Fri	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/20	Tue	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/21	Wed	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/22	Thu	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/23	Fri	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/26	Mon	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/27	Tue	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/28	Wed	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082
	Jan/29	Thu	03:00PM-05:00PM	32-082

Dave Pritchard - Professor

Osasere Evbuomwan, PhD, Cristina Lois Gomez, PhD, Iliyana Atanasova, PhD, Nicholas Durr, PhD

	Jan/20	Tue	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112
	Jan/21	Wed	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112
	Jan/22	Thu	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112
	Jan/27	Tue	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112
	Jan/28	Wed	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112
	Jan/29	Thu	09:30AM-11:30AM	36-112

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none

Biomedical Imaging is defined as the non-invasive visual
representation of anatomic, physiologic, metabolic, and molecular changes that differentiate
pathological from normal tissue within intact living organisms.
Several biomedical imaging modalities exist, and their selection for specific clinical applications
is dependent on a number of factors that include resolution, use of ionizing or nonionizing
radiation, depth penetration, availability of molecular probes, and detection threshold. Regardless
of the modality used, the images produced facilitate a better understanding of various disease
mechanisms. The field of biomedical imaging is multidisciplinary and therefore requires the
integration of cell/molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, medical physics,
biomathematics, and bioinformatics to be clinically useful. This course is designed for
engineering, chemistry, biology, and physics students interested in biomedical imaging. Students
will learn about the fundamental principles behind current biomedical imaging techniques and their
key clinical applications. Other topics include: Molecular mechanism of image generation, and
Design of molecular imaging probes.

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Osasere Evbuomwan, PhD, osaseree@mit.edu

Dr. Michael Nowak, Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute

Jan/22

Thu

03:15PM-03:35PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: 2pm (Grinberg) & 2:30pm (Marshall)

A brief introduction to the Chandra X-ray Observatory will be given prior to tour of the X-ray Polarimetry Lab.

Please note: to attend the 3:40pm tour of the Polarimetry Lab, you must attend this talk as well as the 2:00pm talk by Dr. Victoria Grinberg and the 2:30 talk by Dr. Herman Marshall.  Lab tour limited to 20 people.  Sign up sheet available at 1:55 in 37-252.

The group will depart Building 37 at 3pm and walk together to NE83-530.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Brendan Griffen, MKI Postdoctoral Fellow

Jan/15

Thu

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Describing the evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang to what we see today is not an easy undertaking. The advent of powerful parallel computers has created a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the build up of structure over cosmic time. In particular, these machines are now helping us understand when and how galaxies formed. Current models have remarkable success at reproducing the large scale features of our Universe, for example. Although a great deal of our modern understanding of the Universe has come from studying it in this way, current models are still struggling with the details, particularly on small scales. In my talk I will discuss the current state of the art in computational astrophysics, some of the problems in the models and how astronomers are working hard to solve them.

For additional information, please go to the event website.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Hands-On Aerospace

Jan/15

Thu

11:00AM-12:00PM

33-116

Enrollment: Unlimited Enrollment. Advance sign-up requested but not required.

Professor Hoffman will present a brief history of the Hubble Space Telescope - what it was intended to accomplish, how it was built and launched, the optical problems it encountered, how these problems were corrected, and how the HST has gone on to become NASA’s most successful scientific mission ever. The talk will be illustrated by slides and a video from STS-61, the Hubble Rescue Mission during which Professor Hoffman and three other astronauts performed five spacewalks to fix the HST.

 

[This activity is part of the Hands-On Aerospace series sponsored by Aero/Astro running Jan 12-16.  Participants welcome at individual sessions, priority may be given to registered 16.680 class members and undergraduates.  See Hands-On Aerospace listing for full schedule.]

Sponsor(s): Aeronautics and Astronautics
Contact: Naomi Schurr, (310)561-0286, hands-on-aerospace@mit.edu

Tim McClure

Jan/29

Thu

10:00AM-01:00PM

13-2137

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/26

The Center for Materials Science and Engineering's Analysis Shared Experimental Facility has an extended range FT-IR Microscope with a variety of sampling accessories that are available for the use of researchers. Come find out about the many sampling options now available for FT-IR.  Pre-register via e-mail.

Sponsor(s): Center for Materials Science and Engineering
Contact: Tim McClure, 13-4149, x8-6470, mtim@mit.edu

Dennis Whyte, Director, PSFC

Jan/12

Mon

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Fusion energy is one of the most attractive options for producing large amounts of safe, carbon-free electricity. We will explore what is required to make fusion energy a reality and how its development could be accelerated by technology and science innovations.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Paul Schechter, William A M Burden Professor of Astrophysics

Jan/13

Tue

02:30PM-03:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

According to Einstein's theory, gravity produces what is, in effect, an index of refraction.  Light passing in the vicinity of an astronomical object will be delayed, deflected and distorted by the variations in this index of refraction, in a manner exactly analogous to terrestrial mirages.  Such cosmic mirages are a major tool for the study of dark matter in galaxies and clusters of galaxies.

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.

A listing of all IAP activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research is available here.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Marilyn Hallock, Susan Leite

Jan/22

Thu

11:00AM-12:00PM

46-3189

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The exciting field of nanotechnology is creating the next industrial revolution in engineering. It is also creating the new field of nanotoxicology. Are nanoparticles more toxic than dust particles we normally work with? Could carbon nanotubes possibly be the next asbestos? Come find out what we know and don't know and how to work safely in your laboratory with nanomaterials. No prerequisite.

Sponsor(s): Environment, Health and Safety Office
Contact: Marilyn Hallock, N52-496, x3-0344, hallock@mit.edu

Joseph Minervini, Division Head, Fusion Technology and Engineering

Jan/12

Mon

02:00PM-03:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Magnet systems are the ultimate enabling technology for magnetic confinement fusion devices, which require powerful magnetic fields to confine the plasma. Almost all design concepts for power-producing commercial fusion reactors rely on superconducting magnets to create these magnetic fields efficiently and reliably. If fusion reactors are going to be a significant and practical energy source, future superconducting magnets will require improved materials and components. 

A recent breakthrough could significantly change the economic and technical status of superconducting magnets. So-called High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) have now been used to demonstrate superconducting fields > 30T in small bore solenoid geometries. Recent studies performed at MIT indicate that HTS magnets using demountable magnets are becoming a feasible option for future devices. These magnets could make game-changing improvements to fusion reactor performance, as well as to machine maintenance, reliability and availability.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Dr. Ralf Heilmann, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute

Jan/20

Tue

02:30PM-03:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none

The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) develops advanced lithography and nano-fabrication technology for high performance space instrumentation, as well as nanometer-accuracy metrology and assembly technology. Two current efforts are the development of nanofabricated soft x-ray gratings, the so-called critical-angle transmission (CAT) gratings, and the development of high-precision focusing X-ray mirrors. CAT gratings require the fabrication of sub-micron structures with extreme geometries and sub-nanometer precision, while x-ray mirrors are formed at 600 deg C while floating on porous air bearings. These efforts are aimed at instruments that can help find the missing baryons in the Cosmic Web and reveal the secrets of dark matter.

PLEASE NOTE:  There will be a tour of the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) from 3:15-4:15pm.  The pre-requisite for going on the SNL tour is attending this talk.  The tour is limited to SIX people; advance sign-up required starting at 2:25 pm in 37-252.  You must attend this talk to take the tour.

A complete listing of IAP activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research is available here.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Dr. Thomas Byrne, Clinical Professor of Neurology & HST, MGH, HMS

	Jan/06	Tue	09:00AM-10:30AM	46-3189
	Jan/08	Thu	09:00AM-10:30AM	46-3189
	Jan/09	Fri	09:00AM-10:30AM	46-3189

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session
Prereq: MIT Students

A series of three meetings will be held in which a clinical case from the New England Journal of Medicine series of “Clinicopathological Conferences from the Massachusetts General Hospital” will be discussed. At each meeting a case presentation will be read and then the way in which a clinician evaluates the symptoms, signs on physical examination and imaging/laboratory information will be presented.  This should provide a means by which to get a glimpse of the clinical reasoning of physicians.  Interested potential students may view a sample NEJM CPC by searching most any recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and looking at a published CPC.  The format of the three cases discussed will follow these formats although the selected cases will be from past issues of the Journal. Students may attend one, two or all three of the classes.

Sponsor(s): Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Health Sciences & Technology
Contact: Kris Kipp, 46-2005, 617 253-5741, KIPP@MIT.EDU

Mr. Adam Anderson, MIT Kavli Institute

Jan/29

Thu

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Hunting Dark Matter
Understanding the composition and properties of the matter in the universe is one of the most basic goals of physics, yet we know scandalously little about most of the matter. A concordance of diverse evidence from astrophysics and cosmology suggests that 85% of the matter in the universe is "dark": it is non-electromagnetically interacting and fundamentally different than the familiar matter of atoms that we experience in our day-to-day life. Though the existence and astrophysical properties of dark matter are established, its particle properties are unknown. I will describe the different pieces of evidence that have led to our current understanding of dark matter, culminating in the state-of-the-art direct searches that are probing its particle properties.

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Krishna Rajagopal, Associate Dept Head & Prof/MacVicar Faculty Fellow

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

IAP 2015 Physics Lecture Series

Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Denise Wahkor, 4-315, 617 253-4855, DENISEW@MIT.EDU

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The Mysteries of Mass Unveiled?

Jan/12

Mon

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

On July 4, 2012, the discovery of a new boson with mass around 125 GeV was announced at CERN. First measurements of its properties are compatible with those of the long sought standard-model Higgs boson. I will present the results from the first run of the Large Hadron Collider and discuss the potential of future measurements.

Markus Klute - Professor- Department of Physics

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Nuclear Detection in Nuclear Security.

Jan/14

Wed

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

The talk will focus on two research areas: the use of monochromatic gamma sources for the detection of nuclear materials in cargo containers; and authentication of nuclear warheads without compromising classified information, which is necessary for enabling nuclear disarmament treaties.

     

Areg Danagoulian - Assistant Professor, Department of Nuclear Science and Engin

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Nolinear Tides

Jan/16

Fri

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

Despite a long history of study, there is a lot we do not understand about tides.  This is especially true for close binaries, where the tides are so strong that the fluid response is highly nonlinear.  I will focus on two types of close binaries:  extrasolar planets in ~1 day orbits and inspiraling neutron star binaries (in ~0.01 second orbits!).  

 

Nevin Weinberg - Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

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The Art of Interviewing

Jan/20

Tue

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

 

The interview is an essential part of getting a job or internship, and often a key piece in being accepted into a graduate program, postdoctoral position, or faculty position. This talk will focus on the many ways you can prepare for an interview, the types of questions (and answers) that one can expect, and other general tips and suggestions so that the interview becomes your strength, not your worry.

 

 

Matt Cubstead - Administrative Officer, Department of Physics

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Capturing transcription in action

Jan/22

Thu

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

"Capturing transcription in action with single-molecule imaging in live cells".

Transcription is the first step in the central dogma of molecular biology when genetic information in DNA is copied into a messenger RNA.  Here, I will discuss our recent efforts in capturing cooperative behaviors that emerge during transcription onset, with single-molecule resolution directly in living cells.

 

Ibrahim Cisse - Assistant Professor- Department Physics

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The Search for Earth 2.0

Jan/23

Fri

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

The discovery and characterization of exoplanets have the potential to offer the world one of the most impactful findings ever in the history of astronomy - the identification of life beyond Earth. Life can be inferred by the presence of atmospheric biosignature gases - gases produced by life that can accumulate to detectable levels in an exoplanet atmosphere.

Sara Seager - Professor, Dept of Earth, Atmospheric, & Planetary Sciences

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Fontiers in Superconductivity

Jan/26

Mon

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

Condensed matter physics examines the science of many:  when one-billion-quadrillion atoms are assembled in a solid material, new phenomena can emerge. Just when it seems that the phenomenon is fully understood, new superconductors are discovered to challenge this understanding.  In this talk, I will give an overview of superconductivity science and technology with a focus on current research directions.

Inna Vishik - Pappalardo Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physics

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The secret life of quarks

Jan/28

Wed

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

I will describe how the strong force that binds atomic nuclei together arises from the underlying interactions of quarks and gluons and discuss how the simple theory that describes them gives rise to the complex world of nuclear physics.

 

 

 

 

William Detmold - Assistant Professor- Department of Physics

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Little Big-Bang: Relativistic Heavy Ion

Jan/30

Fri

01:30PM-02:30PM

4-370

"Little Big-Bang: Relativistic Heavy Ion Collision at the LHC"

In 2010, LHC has delivered PbPb collisions at the highest collision energies ever achieved. The main goal of the heavy ion program is to study the fundamental theory of strong interactions, Quantum Chromodynamics, under extreme high density and temperature conditions.  In this talk, recent results from CMS are reviewed and discussed.

 

Yen-Jie Lee - Assistant Professor- Department of Physics

Andy Neely, Manager of the Technical Services Group

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

The Feynman Films

Sponsor(s): Physics
Contact: Denise Wahkor, 4-315, 617 253-4855, DENISEW@MIT.EDU

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The Law of Gravitation

Jan/12

Mon

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Law of Gravitation

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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The Best Mind Since Einstein

Jan/14

Wed

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Best Mind Since Einstein

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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The Relation of Mathematics to Physics

Jan/16

Fri

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Relation of Mathematics to Physics

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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The Great Conservation Principles

Jan/20

Tue

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Great Conservation Principles

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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Symmetry in Physical Law

Jan/22

Thu

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

Symmetry in Physical Law

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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The Last Journey of a Genius

Jan/23

Fri

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Last Journey of a Genius

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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Take the World from Another Point of Vie

Jan/26

Mon

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

Take the World from Another Point of View

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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The Distinction of Past and Future

Jan/28

Wed

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

The Distinction of Past and Future

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

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Probability and Uncertainty

Jan/30

Fri

12:00PM-01:30PM

4-370

Probability and Uncertainty

Andy Neely - Manager of the Technical Services Group

Craig Sangster, University of Rochester

Jan/20

Tue

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

The DOE-NNSA supports a number of experimental facilities that explore the high-energy-density physics, HEDP, (e.g., pressures above 1 Mbar) relevant to Stockpile Stewardship. The OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is one of those facilities and recently completed its 25,000th shot since becoming operational in 1996.  The Stewardship program has benefited immensely from the open nature of the research conducted at LLE where the research priorities are split roughly equally among basic science, fusion and HEDP.  This talk will describe many of the experimental platforms and techniques used to study physics relevant to fields such as material science, relativistic plasmas (e.g., electron-positron plasmas), hydrodynamics, cosmology and astrophysics, and planetary science.  While the data from these experiments are often published in journals such as Physical Review, Nature and Science, where possible, the HEDP connection with the Sponsor will be discussed.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Maria Gatu Johnson, Research Scientist

Jan/20

Tue

03:15PM-04:15PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

This tour showcases Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research at MIT. The PSFC High-Energy-Density Physics group has developed and/or calibrated a number of nuclear diagnostics installed on the OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester, NY, and on the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, CA, to study nuclear products generated in fusion reactions.

 

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Dr. Gael Forget, Research Scientist

	Jan/15	Thu	10:00AM-11:30AM	54-1623
	Jan/16	Fri	10:00AM-11:30AM	54-1623
	Jan/22	Thu	10:00AM-11:30AM	54-1623
	Jan/23	Fri	10:00AM-11:30AM	54-1623
	Jan/29	Thu	10:00AM-11:30AM	54-1623

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/12
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

The analysis of observations and modeling are intertwined components of modern observational oceanogrphy. This class intends to inform students and postocs of the wealth of ocean data and models that are readily available to them at MIT - including, but not liminted to, collections of Argo profiles and MITgcm output. The class will proceed through lectures and interacitve MATLAB sessions. The use of models as part of low level data processing, and within higher level data synthesis, will be exposed during the lectures by taking examples from recent and ongoing research. The interactive MATLAB sessions will aim to enable attendees to take advantage of available data and models for their own research.

Sponsor(s): Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Contact: Gael Forget, 54-1423, (617) 452-2977, gforget@mit.edu

Courtney Crummett, Biosciences Librarian

Jan/15

Thu

11:00AM-12:00PM

14N-132 DIRC

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/15

Come learn about JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, and find out how watching scientific research in a video format enhances laboratory outcomes and saves time. JoVE includes several peer reviewed journals in the life science and physical science fields. Watch a protocol in action, learn how to do particular experiment or procedure, or watch videos demonstrating a paper’s materials and methods section. Click here for MIT Libraries subscriptions to JoVE. Please register! 

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Courtney Crummett, 14S-134, 617 324-8290, CRUMMETT@MIT.EDU

Brian LaBombard, Senior Research Scientist

Jan/16

Fri

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

How can one harness the process that powers the sun?  By compressing a hot fusion plasma with very strong magnetic fields. Recent advances in high temperature, high-field superconductors open up an exciting new design window for a compact, high-field, electricity producing device, based on the tokamak concept. MIT’s high field tokamak, Alcator C-Mod, and a proposed new high-field device, ADX, are charting the pathway forward to this vision for a practical fusion power plant.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Alex Zylstra, Graduate Student

Jan/20

Tue

02:00PM-03:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

The High-Energy-Density Physics Division is responsible for four essential nuclear diagnostics on the National Ignition Facility: a neutron spectrometer, two proton spectrometers, and a fusion burn history diagnostic. Future capabilities include improvements on current techniques and proton back-lighting. This talk will discuss diagnostic techniques and their applications to both fusion ignition and basic science.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Dr. Victoria Grinberg, Postdoctoral Associate, MIT Kavli Institute

Jan/22

Thu

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Black holes are perhaps the most mind-boggling objects ever conceived by physicists and there is hardly any science fiction series today that will not feature them in some capacity. However, black holes are also very much observable and one of the major topics of today's X-ray astronomy.

In this talk I will give a very short overview of what black holes are, where we find astrophysical black holes, why we need X-ray astronomy and thus satellite-based telescopes such as Chandra to observe black holes, and  how observations of both, supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies and the "small" black holes of only a few solar masses in binary star systems, improve our understanding of the physics of our universe.

Please note:  In order to attend the tour of the Polarimetry Lab, you must attend this talk.  Tour limited to 20 people.  Sign up sheet available at 1:55pm in 37-252.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Martin Greenwald, Paul Rivenberg, Abhay Ram

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This series introduces plasma physics research and areas of related interest at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. See URL below. http://www.psfc.mit.edu/

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

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Fusion Energy: How it Works...

Jan/12

Mon

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

Fusion Energy: How It Works, Why We Want It and How to Get It Sooner

Fusion energy is one of the most attractive options for producing large amounts of safe, carbon-free electricity. We will explore what is required to make fusion energy a reality and how its development could be accelerated by technology and science innovations.

Dennis Whyte - Director, Plasma Science and Fusion Center

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High Temp Superconductors for Fusion

Jan/12

Mon

02:00PM-03:00PM

NW17-218

High Temperature Superconducting Magnets for Fusion: New Technology for a New Energy Source

Recent MIT studies indicate that High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnets using demountable magnets are becoming a feasible option for future fusion devices. These magnets could make game-changing improvements to fusion reactor performance, as well as to machine maintenance, reliability and availability.

 

Joe Minervini - Division Head

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Space Weather Research

Jan/14

Wed

02:00PM-03:00PM

NW17-218

Space Weather Research: Scientific and Social Issues of Living Near a Star

An overview of some scientfic questions and practical issues that confront us as a technological, space-faring human race living in the atmosphere of a star. We will discuss existing space-based assets used for both basic plasma physics research and weather forecasting, along with a remarkably simple method for measuring solar wind.

 

Michael Stevens - Astrophysicist

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MIT's High-Field Research: C-Mod & ADX

Jan/16

Fri

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

MIT's High-Field Research on the Fast Track to Fusion Electricity - Alcator C-Mod and ADX

Recent advances in high-temperature, high-field superconductors open up an exciting design window for a compact, high-field, electricity producing device, based on the tokamak concept. MIT's Alcator C-Mod, and a proposed new high-field device, ADX, are charting the pathway forward to this vision for a practical fusion power plant.

 

Brian LaBombard - Research Scientist

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Tour of Alcator C-Mod

Jan/16

Fri

01:00PM-02:00PM

NW17-218

Visit the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a major fusion energy experiment being carried out on the MIT campus. Alcator C- Mod is the third in a series of tokamak devices at MIT that use very high magnetic fields to confine plasmas operating near 100,000,000 degrees.

Ted Golfinopoulos - Postdoctoral Associate

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MIT's Contribution to Fusion Ignition

Jan/20

Tue

11:00AM-12:00PM

NW17-218

Nuclear Measurements at the National Ignition Facility (NIF): MIT's Contribution to Fusion Ignition and Basic Science

MIT is responsible for 4 essential nuclear diagnostics on the NIF: a neutron spectrometer, two proton spectrometers, and a fusion burn history diagnostic. This talk will discuss diagnostic techniques and their applications to both fusion ignition and basic science.

Alex Zylstra - Grad Student

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Tour of MIT ICF Facilities

Jan/20

Tue

12:15PM-01:00PM

NW17-218

This tour showcases Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research at MIT. The PSFC High-Energy-Density Physics group has developed and/or calibrated a number of nuclear diagnostics installed on the OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester, NY, and on the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, CA, to study nuclear products generated in fusion reactions.

 

Maria Gatu Johnson - Research Scientist

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Research with the OMEGA Laser

Jan/20

Tue

02:00PM-03:30PM

NW17-218

The Basic Science Behind Stockpile Stewardship: Research with the OMEGA Laser

This talk will describe many of the experimental platforms and techniques used to study physics relevant to fields such as material science, relativistic plasmas (e.g., electron-positron plasmas), hydrodynamics,  cosmology and astrophysics, and planetary science. 

Craig Sangster - Experimental Division Director, LLE

Aron Bernstein, Professor of Physics Emeritus

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None

This course will start with nuclear developments in India and Pakistan, one of the most
likely flash points for conflict between nuclear powers. It will discuss the capabilities,
doctrines, and trajectories of both states and their impact on crisis stability in the
subcontinent. The second topic will deal with Uranium enrichment, a key step in the
production of fuel for peaceful nuclear-power reactors which also can also be used to
make nuclear weapons. As nuclear power spreads, an increasing number of countries
will have the capability and motivation to build nuclear-weapon capable infrastructure.
This talk explores this changing landscape and the implications for international
security. The final talk will present a discussion of the dangers of the current US,
Russian rapid response nuclear weapons policy, an evaluation of the Iran and North
Korean nuclear proliferation situations, the upcoming May 2015 nuclear proliferation
treaty (NPT) negotiations at the UN, and the outlook for nuclear weapons reductions.

Sponsor(s): Lab for Nuclear Science
Contact: Aron Bernstein, 26-419, 617-253-2386, bernstein@mit.edu

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Nuclear Weapons Policies and Dangers

Jan/22

Thu

03:00PM-04:30PM

26-414

Nuclear Weapons Policies and Dangers in India and Pakistan, by Prof. Vipin Narang

Vipin Narang - Professor of Political Science

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Uranium Enrichment and Proliferation

Jan/26

Mon

03:00PM-04:30PM

26-414

Uranian Enrichment and Proliferation, by Prof. Scott Kemp

Scott Kemp - Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering

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Nuclear Weapons and Non-Proliferation

Jan/28

Wed

03:00PM-04:30PM

26-414

Outlook- Nuclear Weapons and Non-Proliferation, by Prof. Aron Bernstein

Aron Bernstein - Professor of Physics Emeritus

Douglas Sweetser '84

Jan/23

Fri

03:00PM-05:00PM

32-124

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

This is a new project. The stretch goal is to make the unreachable algebra that drives mathematical physics into a game that can be played on a phone ("So that is what it means to get a hydrogen atom 'excited'"). A sense of what equations are key to relativistic QFT will be sketched (no quizzes). I will explain its odd starting position using the quaternion group Q8 and avoiding the real number line. Stories of battles between the blender game engine and python will be shared. We will put on 3D glasses and look at a few simple things.

Doug Sweetser '84
Course 7 and Course 10

Register online

Sponsor(s): Alumni Association, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Elena Byrne, W98-206C, 617 252-1143, EBYRNE@MIT.EDU

Areg Danagoulian

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: basic knowledge of coding and data analysis

ROOT is a C++ based data analysis toolkit which was developed by the high energy physics community at CERN   for analyzing terabytes of nuclear data.  It consists of libraries and a built-in CINT C++ interpreter, which allows for prototyping and exploratory data analysis.  This creates an environment which greatly simplifies the transition from prototyping to scripting and eventually to a stand-alone, highly efficient code. ROOT is a very powerful data analysis framework which is currently being used in high energy and nuclear physics, astrophysics and nuclear engineering.  

In this 2 day tutorial we will start with an intro to C++, and will go over some basic exercises on how to load, analyze, and save data in the ROOT/CINT framework.

Requirements:  bring your own laptop.

Note:  while we will try to provide access to a server where the participants can play with ROOT,  the participants are encouraged to have ROOT installed on their laptops before the tutorial.

Sponsor(s): Nuclear Science and Engineering
Contact: Areg Danagoulian, 617 324-6329, AREGJAN@MIT.EDU

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	Jan/14	Wed	04:00PM-05:00PM	24-307
	Jan/16	Fri	04:00PM-05:00PM	24-307

Areg Danagoulian

Dr. Adam Libson, Postdoctoral Associate

Jan/06

Tue

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.

Einstein's theory of general relativity predicts the existence of gravitational radiation. Since gravity is a weak force, it takes extreme masses and energies to produce a detectable gravitational wave signature. Indirect evidence for the existence of this radiation has been collected using pulsar measurements. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is an experiment designed to directly detect this radiation, and use it to study exotic astrophysical phenomena. To do this, LIGO must measure length changes with a precision of 10-19 meters, less than a thousandth of a proton diameter. In this talk, I will briefly discuss gravitational radiation and its sources, and I will also describe the LIGO detectors and the physics involved in their operation. Finally, I will discuss some of the quantum limits on making this type of precision measurement, and the ways in which LIGO hopes to beat these limits.

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk. 

Please Note: A tour of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab will follow this talk.  To take the tour (2:45-4:00pm), you must attend this talk and register for the tour. 

See website for additional information.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Abraham Neben

Jan/14

Wed

02:30PM-03:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Radio astronomy has been a crucial probe of the early universe since the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background in 1964. But most of the first billion years, during which the modern universe emerged out of a nearly homogenous soup of hydrogen, has remained hidden. I’ll discuss a new generation of radio telescopes just beginning to reveal the first stars and galaxies which are thought to have re-ionized the neutral hydrogen left over from the Big Bang. Using the Murchison Widefield Array in the remote Australian desert, we have begun to sift through Petabytes of data for hints of this theoretical Epoch of Reionization.

For additional information, please go to the event website.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Michael Stevens, Harvard Smithsonian Center

Jan/14

Wed

02:00PM-03:00PM

Nw17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

An overview of some scientific and social issues that confront us as a technological, space-faring human race living in the atmosphere of a star. We will discuss existing space-based assets used for both basic plasma physics research and weather forecasting, along with a remarkably simple method for measuring solar wind, which will be employed in the upcoming NASA missions, DSCOVR and Solar Probe Plus.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Anna Frebel, Silverman (1968) Family Career Development Assistant Profess

Jan/13

Tue

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The early chemical evolution of the Galaxy and the Universe is vital to our understanding of a host of astrophysical phenomena. Since the oldest Galactic stars are relics from the high-redshift Universe, they probe the chemical and dynamical conditions of a time when large galaxies first began to assemble. Through analysis of their surface composition, they probe the chemical and dynamical conditions as the Milky Way began to form, the origin and evolution of the elements, and the physics of nucleosynthesis. Some of these stars display a strong overabundance of the heaviest elements, in particular uranium and thorium. They can thus be radioactively dated, giving formation times ~ 13 Gyr ago, similar to the ~ 13.7 Gyr age of the Universe. In addition to talking about the science results, I will show a few video clips about observing with the 6.5m optical Magellan telescopes in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.

A complete listing of all IAP activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research is available here.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Dena Seidel, Assist. Prof. and Director, Center for Digital Filmmaking

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This is a pivotal moment in the development of science communication. Drawing on her many years of science filmmaking experience including NSF funded "Antarctica: Beyond the Ice",  Dena Seidel will give two talks on creatively using film to communicate science to broad audiences

Dena Seidel is the Director of the Rutgers Center for Digital Filmmaking and an Assistant Professor in the Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is also an award winning filmmaker and the Director/Producer of the soon to be release feature documentary Antarctica: Beyond the Ice funded by the National Science Foundation and featuring an inter-disciplinary research team studying climate change in one of the most rapidly changing parts of the world.

 

 

 

 

Sponsor(s): Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Contact: Vicki McKenna, 54-910, 617 253-3380, VSM@MIT.EDU

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Jan/14

Wed

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-915

Creative Ocean and Earth Science Filmmaking

Ocean and Earth research can be shaped into compelling science discovery narratives for the screen. Film narratives allow audiences to vicariously experiences a scientist's processes of discovery, beginning with an interest in knowing more about the natural world to the methods used to test a hypothesis  that eventually led to discoveries. 

Dena Seidel - Assist. Prof. and Director, Center for Digital Filmmaking

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Jan/15

Thu

12:00PM-01:00PM

54-915

Communicating your Research to the Public through Film

Narratives told from the perspective of scientists can effectively communicate science in a meaningful way. Public understanding of the work scientists do is essential for continued research funding and attracting young people to STEM fields. Hear how filmmakers and researchers work together to create narratives that engage the larger public in science learning.

Dena Seidel - Assist. Prof. and Director, Center for Digital Filmmaking

Alexander Ji

Jan/14

Wed

02:00PM-02:30PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The very first stars to form in the universe are fundamentally different from all subsequent generations of stars. Want to find out why? Come listen to this talk!

Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Dr. Federico Marinacci, MKI Postdoctoral Fellow

Jan/29

Thu

02:30PM-03:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Numerical simulations are a fundamental tool in Theoretical Astrophysics to understand how the objects that populate our Universe formed and evolved. In this talk I am going to present the results of the Illustris simulation, one of the largest cosmological simulations ever performed, that follows the evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang to the present day. In particular, I will give a brief illustration of our current view on how galaxies are formed and what are the most important processes that shape their evolution.

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Ted Golfinopoulos, Postdoctoral Associate

Jan/16

Fri

01:00PM-02:00PM

NW17-218

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Visit the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a major fusion energy experiment being carried out on the MIT campus. Alcator C- Mod is the third in a series of tokamak devices at MIT that use very high magnetic fields to confine plasmas operating near 100,000,000 degrees C.

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU

Dr. Adam Libson, MKI Postdoctoral Associate

Jan/06

Tue

02:45PM-04:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: Attendance of same day MKI sessions

Visitors will be taken on a tour of the LIGO prototyping facilities at MIT. These include a full-scale prototype of the LIGO vacuum chambers, laser, isolation and suspension systems, and laboratories for thermal and optical noise measurements.

Max 10 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Ralf Heilmann, Associate Director, Space Nanotechnology Laboratory

Jan/20

Tue

03:15PM-04:15PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/20
Limited to 6 participants
Prereq: Attendance of same day MKI sessions

During the tour of the SNL's three clean rooms visitors will see sophisticated optical (interference lithography stations for the fabrication of submicron period gratings, high power UV laser, metrology station for optics shape measurements, sub-nanometer resolution interferometers, etc.) and mechanical systems (XY-air-bearing stage, sub-micron accuracy alignment system, environmental enclosure, active vibration isolation, etc.) that support the development of thin-foil x-ray optics and gratings.

Max 6 people, advance sign-up required starting at 2:25 pm in 37-252.

***PLEASE NOTE***
The prequisite for taking the tour is attending the 2:30-3:00pm talk preceding the tour.

For additional information, please see the event website.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU

Dr. Herman Marshall, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute

Jan/22

Thu

02:30PM-03:00PM

37-252 Marlar Lounge

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The stellar binary SS 433 was once featured on Saturday Night Live as the "comin' and a-goin' star". By means that are still somewhat mysterious, the system ejects blobs of plasma in opposite directions at a speed of about a quarter of the speed of light. The compact object that is responsible for providing the impetus for this plasma is probably a black hole about 10 times the mass of the Sun. I show what we've come to understand about the system and its jets such as how their directions trace out twin cones on the sky. X-ray spectroscopy, using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer that were built here at MIT, shows that the plasma temperature reaches at least 100 billion degrees and can be used to measure the density and location of the outflows we call jets.

 

Please note: to attend the tour of the Polarimetry Lab, you must attend this talk as well as the 2:00 pm talk "Observing Black Holes".  Lab tour limited to 20 people.  Sign up sheet available at 1:55 in 37-252.

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU